Propulsion Engineering Spring Co-op (January 2026) (X-BAT)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

4d•$37 - $55

About The Position

Our 2026 Co-Op program is an excellent opportunity for rising graduates to gain deep, hands-on experience in a mission-driven and innovative engineering environment. This paid, full-time program spans multiple months during the academic year, offering extended immersion in real-world hardware development and testing. The Propulsion Engineering Co-op will contribute to the development and optimization of propulsion systems for X-BAT. Responsibilities include hands-on work with low bypass turbofan, jet fuel-based fuel delivery systems, and oil management subsystems. The position involves both experimental and analytical tasks, including data acquisition, engine performance evaluation, and design iteration. This role provides direct exposure to jet engine fundamental, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, mechanical design, and UAV propulsion architecture. The ideal start date is January 2026, and the end date is flexible (around~6 months).

Requirements

Have completed at least the 2nd year of a relevant degree. Typically, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
Strong technical fundamentals.
Have been part of an engineering team/club, preferably with a role related to propulsion.
Experience with mechanical design software and tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or similar.
Demonstrated history of showing ownership of project outcomes and delivering exceptional results.
Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.

Responsibilities

Own a development project that is tailored to the start date and duration of your co-op.
Collaborate with engineers in design, test, and validation of X-BAT UAV propulsion components, with an emphasis on designing for manufacturability (DFM).
Support development of systems related to oil delivery, fuel delivery, or thermal management for air-cooled piston engines.
Conduct data collection, performance analysis, and report generation from engine and propeller tests.
Participate in troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and implementation of propulsion system improvements.